TVA Identifies Preferred Route for Transmission Line

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Authority has identified a preferred route for a new transmission line in Lebanon, Tenn.

The 5-mile transmission line would provide additional power for industrial growth by connecting to a new Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation substation near Interstate 840.

The selected route is expected to have the least impact on the area, based on public input from an open house last September and additional evaluation of other factors, including cost, engineering and environmental impacts. A National Environmental Policy Act review is pending.

TVA will meet with property owners along the proposed right of way to obtain easements for construction, operation and maintenance of the line.

TVA is expected to perform field and environmental surveys in spring 2014 and start acquiring easements next winter 2014-2015. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2015 and be completed during fall 2015.

The new substation would be located on the northeast corner of the Vesta Road/Couchville Pike – I-840 interchange. TVA would provide power to the new substation via a 5-mile line from the Wilson-Lebanon 161-kilovolt line. The new line would parallel State Route 840, consisting of alternative segments 1, 2, 12 and 13. A map of the project and additional information is available.

Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.